Armed RobberyBusinesses that deal with the public on a day-to-day basis can help minimise the risk of staff and customers becoming involved in an armed robbery by taking preventative measures. In order to take the proper safety measures it is important to understand the reasoning behind the perpetrators of such crimes. This section will take you firstly through the different categories of robbers and the different techniques used.The Professional Armed Robbery
Professional armed robbery involves a person/s who spends time planning each robbery in detail. If a team is involved each person will be assigned his or her own roles to play whilst the robbery is being committed. The target business is usually cased (a person is sent in to check the layout and where staff are normally positioned) and then a date and time is selected. Weapons are obtained often through illegal channels. Professionals tend to focus their unwanted attention on businesses with goods that can be easily fenced (stolen property sold for cash) or those with large amounts of cash on hand.

The Impulsive Robbery
Impulsive robbery is a crime of opportunity, which has no planning involved. The person/s who commits this sort of robbery are usually operating on momentary pressures where they believe they need money instantly. An example of this may be a store clerk on his own late at night when the impulsive robber comes in to buy a single item and cannot resist the opportunity to rob him. These types of crimes have also been linked to drug use and alcoholism.

Armed Robbery Techniques

Robber assesses who does the banking from a particular business and wait for this person so they can rob them usually with the threat of violence (use of gun or knife)

Hits business

If you and your business are involved in an Armed Robbery, try to remain calm and take careful note with your eyes what the offender looks like. Any distinguishing marks or speech patterns can help the police towards capturing the culprit.

es that pay employees in cash on the day of their payroll.

Works out the periods when the least amount of people will be around and then rob the business during this time.

Waits until the end of business and hold up the store managers as they are closing the premises.

Uses stolen cars and/or false number plates in the commission of an armed robbery.

Eliminating the Risk of Business Robberies

Have under counter or hidden alarm buttons installed which when pushed sets off a silent alarm at the monitoring company.

Keep informed about robberies that may have occurred in your neighbourhood.

Banks should have automatic security shields that on the push of a button raise between the tellers and customers.

Time-lapse security cameras that record the interior and are often invaluable to police when trying to identify the perpetrator.

Be aware of people that do not fit the patterns of a normal customer. Those that look very nervous and are obviously not interested in the store’s merchandise and are acting furtively.

Do not cover glass windows with advertising as they provide security if people on the footpath outside, can see into the store. Robbers are less likely to hit these as they could be witnessed by anyone on the outside.

Armed Robbery is defined as a person or persons using the threat of force (either using psychical strength or a weapon) to produce fear in the victim so they will relinquish something of value in their care (goods or money)